Welcome to Roosevelt High School and Drake University's "Exchange Through Writing" Page.
While students enrolled in Roosevelt's Advanced Placement Language and Composition read novels and plays from the canon, the work we do with Drake students will focus on our writing. The three formal writing assignments build upon each other, starting with a definition essay and moving to a comparison essay; students will then use these two pieces to inform a final persuasive argument.
Throughout the course of the semester, Drake and Roosevelt students will be working together on these assignments to learn how an exchange of ideas about writing improves our understanding about communicating with written language. In the left column, Drake students participating in Swilky's 171 are listed; clicking on each student's name will direct you to the Roosevelt student's writing. This will serve not only as an avenue of communication, but also as an archive of student progress.
Assignment descriptions and due dates for each assignment follow:
Letter of Introduction Letter of Introduction (posted January 20)
This is simply an opportunity to describe yourself and your thoughts about the upcoming semester's work. You're meeting a person for the first time, what do they need to know to get to know you? Questions to consider:
What do you want your writing partner to know about you?
What are your interests, activities, and accomplishments?
What do you hope to gain as a writer this semester?
What have been your biggest challenges or hurdles you've overcome as a writer?
Topic of Inquiry Personal Reflection on Topic of Inquiry(posted RHS January 27 -- 171 January 29) What are the events in life that have defined you? Describe a time in your life when your personal philosophy was challenged and your life or thinking required a change of direction. What were the forces that influenced you? What understanding of your world was changed for better or for worse? As you are selecting your topic, there should be a feeling of unfinished thought that you would like to explore further, developing your understanding of self.
Write a narrative that ends with a question about your chosen topic of inquiry.
Definition Paper Rough Draft Definition (posted RHS February 3 -- 171 February 5) Revision Definition (posted RHS February 10 -- 171 February 12 ) Final Definition (posted RHS February 17 -- 171 February 19 )
Includes Distinguishing Characteristics & Supporting Evidence, e.g., Assertiveness is standing up for your rights. A definition essay is writing that explains what a term means. When writing a definition essay, remember to tell readers what term is being defined, to present a clear and basic definition, and to use facts, examples, or anecdotes that readers will understand. Other examples: Kindness,Sense of Humor, Love, Charisma, Team Player, Optimism, Beauty, Respect, Ambitions
Definition Reflection Reflection #1 (posted RHS February 20 -- 171 February 22)
These reflections are quick posts that answer the following questions:
What was the purpose of the writing? How successfully did you meet this purpose?
Who was your intended audience? How did you adapt your writing to appeal to this audience?
Explain the exigence that influenced the selection of your topic.
How does your writing draw attention to the key aspects of your message?
In what ways did you create tone to reflect your persona?
Comparison Essay Rough Draft Comparison (posted RHS February 24 -- 171 February 26 ) Revision Comparison (posted RHS March 2 -- 171 March 4) Final Comparison (posted RHS March 9 -- 171 March 11) Involves analyzing both similarities and differences; e.g., two means of travel or transportation, two means of communication (e-mails, telephone calls, postal letters, telephone text messages), or two pieces of equipment. Comparison essays have a clear purpose; considers shared characteristics; fairly examines similarities, differences, or both; considers a sufficient number of significant characters and details; and makes a point.
Comparison Reflection Reflection #2 (RHS March 16 -- 171March 25)
These reflections are quick posts that answer the following questions:
What was the purpose of the writing? How successfully did you meet this purpose?
Who was your intended audience? How did you adapt your writing to appeal to this audience?
Explain the exigence that influenced the selection of your topic.
How does your writing draw attention to the key aspects of your message?
In what ways did you create tone to reflect your persona?
Argument Rough Draft Argument (posted RHS April 6 -- 171 April 8) Revision Argument (posted RHS April 13 -- 171 April 15) Final Argument (posted RHS April 20 -- 171 April 23)
Includes Reasons & Evidence: Argumentative writing is the act of forming reasons, making inductions, drawing conclusions, and applying them to the case in discussion; the operation of inferring propositions, not known or admitted as true, from facts or principles known, admitted, or proved to be true. It clearly explains the process of your reasoning from the known or assumed to the unknown. Without doing this you do not have an argument, you have only an assertion, an essay that is just your unsubstantiated opinion. Examples: Animal testing, Capital punishment, Security cameras and privacy, Homeschooling, Retirement age, The use of animals in scientific research, Government and family planning
Argument Reflection Reflection #3 (posted RHS April 23)
These reflections are quick posts that answer the following questions:
What was the purpose of the writing? How successfully did you meet this purpose?
Who was your intended audience? How did you adapt your writing to appeal to this audience?
Explain the exigence that influenced the selection of your topic.
How does your writing draw attention to the key aspects of your message?
In what ways did you create tone to reflect your persona?
While students enrolled in Roosevelt's Advanced Placement Language and Composition read novels and plays from the canon, the work we do with Drake students will focus on our writing. The three formal writing assignments build upon each other, starting with a definition essay and moving to a comparison essay; students will then use these two pieces to inform a final persuasive argument.
Throughout the course of the semester, Drake and Roosevelt students will be working together on these assignments to learn how an exchange of ideas about writing improves our understanding about communicating with written language. In the left column, Drake students participating in Swilky's 171 are listed; clicking on each student's name will direct you to the Roosevelt student's writing. This will serve not only as an avenue of communication, but also as an archive of student progress.
Assignment descriptions and due dates for each assignment follow:
Letter of Introduction
Letter of Introduction (posted January 20)
Topic of Inquiry
Personal Reflection on Topic of Inquiry(posted RHS January 27 -- 171 January 29)
What are the events in life that have defined you? Describe a time in your life when your personal philosophy was challenged and your life or thinking required a change of direction. What were the forces that influenced you? What understanding of your world was changed for better or for worse? As you are selecting your topic, there should be a feeling of unfinished thought that you would like to explore further, developing your understanding of self.
Write a narrative that ends with a question about your chosen topic of inquiry.
Definition Paper
Rough Draft Definition (posted RHS February 3 -- 171 February 5)
Revision Definition (posted RHS February 10 -- 171 February 12 )
Final Definition (posted RHS February 17 -- 171 February 19 )
Definition Reflection
Reflection #1 (posted RHS February 20 -- 171 February 22)
Comparison Essay
Rough Draft Comparison (posted RHS February 24 -- 171 February 26 )
Revision Comparison (posted RHS March 2 -- 171 March 4)
Final Comparison (posted RHS March 9 -- 171 March 11)
Involves analyzing both similarities and differences; e.g., two means of travel or transportation, two means of communication (e-mails, telephone calls, postal letters, telephone text messages), or two pieces of equipment. Comparison essays have a clear purpose; considers shared characteristics; fairly examines similarities, differences, or both; considers a sufficient number of significant characters and details; and makes a point.
Comparison Reflection
Reflection #2 (RHS March 16 -- 171March 25)
Argument
Rough Draft Argument (posted RHS April 6 -- 171 April 8)
Revision Argument (posted RHS April 13 -- 171 April 15)
Final Argument (posted RHS April 20 -- 171 April 23)
Argument Reflection
Reflection #3 (posted RHS April 23)